By: Meredith Sweeney

Increasingly powerful hurricanes, nearly impossible-to-contain wildfires, and more extreme seasons are just a few of the ways we’re feeling the impacts of climate change. And while it might seem overwhelming to try and tackle such a global problem, we all must act, whether it’s big or small actions.

Individual choices—like walking more and eating less meat—can make a difference, but people taking action together on fighting climate change can have an even bigger impact—both locally and globally.

The hopeful news is that there are powerful nonprofits organizing these larger efforts—and fighting climate change in all kinds of ways—including conservation, advocacy and awareness. Check out three vetted organizations making a big impact and how you can get involved right now.

Climate Reality Project  

Mission: Climate change is an urgent crisis and The Climate Reality Project wants to take that urgency to everyone. They help people become climate leaders so they can advocate for clean energy policies and other essential changes in their own communities.

Impact: In 2017, the Climate Reality Project trained more than 2,800 people to be more effective climate activists and 900 public speakers on climate. Local chapters of the project lobbied utilities and local politicians for coal plant closures, got Colorado State University to commit to 100 percent renewables by 2030 and put solar panels on 80 percent of San Diego’s Catholic churches.

Why We Love Them: The Climate Reality Project is focused on building grassroots energy for climate change—knowing that passionate leaders engaged in their own community are far more likely to make progress.

Thank Climate Reality Project on ThatHelps app and get facts on climate change here.

The Human Impacts Institute

Mission: The Human Impacts Institute wants to get everyone—from committed environmentalists to young people to policy makers—to be part of an environmental solution through hands-on activities and training. Founder Tara DePorte stresses that there’s no gap between a high-quality of life, social equity and “saving the planet”—in fact, they go hand in hand.

Impact: Regular events like Tree Care Tuesday in New York City, where volunteers clean and re-mulch tree boxes and plant new trees, help foster community and ease pollution. TII’s leadership training helps young people advocate for the health of their communities and their podcast series, Human Impact Stories, shares the stories of female climate leaders across the world. One particularly inspiring episode is an interview with Annie Wills, a teenager who became a climate leader with Global Kids after losing her home during Hurricane Sandy.

Why We Love Them: The Human Impacts Institute knows artists are also part of the climate fight. They offer a residency for creatives who connect people to environment solutions, and run the Creative Climate Awards, which showcases artists taking on climate change in their work and offers a grand prize each year.

Thank Human Impacts Institute on ThatHelps app then use your talents to help engage in meaningful climate action here.

The Nature Conservancy

Mission: The Nature Conservancy’s larger goal is to protect the lands and resources on which humans rely to survive and thrive. They do this through conservation work, scientific research and lobbying policy makers.

Impact: The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees program aims to slow climate change through reforestation in Brazil, China and the US. Among many other projects, they support research scientists studying river health and potential hydroelectric dams in Gabon, and work alongside government agencies in India to find sites for renewable energy projects that have low ecological impacts.

Why We Love Them: The Nature Conservancy has been around for more than 60 years and has deep roots in both the US and across the globe, spending years on conservation projects in Wyoming and the Caribbean, among many others. TNC has chapters in all 50 states and in more than 70 countries.

Thank Nature Conservancy on ThatHelps app and find your local chapter here.

Photo: Linda Xu